Lessons from the Goat

Why do I write about fishing, sometimes to the tune of tens of thousands of words a week? It’s first and foremost because I love the sport to the point of obsession. While the extra bit of income certainly helps it’s not a driver. Every once in a while, though, I realize that the ancillary benefit of my obsession is that it gives me otherworldly opportunities. 

Such was the case last week when a day after catching my personal-best smallmouth I stepped into a Toyota-wrapped boat with two spinnerbait sticks on the deck. Behind the console sat one Kevin VanDam. I hadn’t fished with him since a three-day stint on the Cal Delta in the spring of 2007. Just like the PB smallie, I figured another opportunity might never come. Finally it was here, Perhaps more importantly, we were in his home state, on prime bronze mining grounds. 

I had to remind myself to be present. 

I think I did a good job of achieving that goal. 

I also tried to pick his brain without it rising to Chris Farley “Wasn’t that awesome?” level of annoyingness.

Only he can tell you whether I succeeded there, too. 

Ultimately, not only did we generate a lot of content, all coming to a blog, website or magazine near you in the not-too-distant future, but we also generated a whole bunch of bites from 3- to 6-pound brown beasts. How much would you pay for a personalized, in-the-boat lesson from the GOAT on his home waters, using the technique for which he is most renowned? That’s what I got – how he tunes a lure, how he “flares” it during the retrieve, and how he keeps those spastic fish hooked. 

I have worked hard to get to this point, and to have these opportunities, but if I ever start to take them for granted you can slap me.